Received: from unknown (HELO legemailout.ks.gov) ([10.154.203.159]) by lgip02.leg.ks.gov with ESMTP; 15 Jan 2010 16:36:54 -0600 Received: from SWCA01.LGKS.LOC (10.154.203.161) by swhtc02.LGKS.LOC (10.154.203.159) with Microsoft SMTP Server (TLS) id 8.2.213.0; Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:07:26 -0600 Received: from EMAIL01.LGKS.LOC ([fe80::31ff:24e7:9408:f7e]) by SWCA01.LGKS.LOC ([10.154.203.161]) with mapi; Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:07:25 -0600 Received: from lgip02.leg.ks.gov ([165.201.70.120]) by bay0-mc2-f28.Bay0.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.3959); Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:36:55 -0800 Return-Path: From: "Jeff King" To: "Jeff King" Subject: From the Statehouse - January 15, 2010 Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:07:12 -0500 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00DB_01CAD37B.336C63A0" X-Mailer: Microsoft Office Outlook 12.0 Thread-Index: AcqWLxbrpW7fNB/CQZevRif9Fjwshw== Content-Language: en-us ------=_NextPart_000_00DB_01CAD37B.336C63A0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From the Statehouse - January 15, 2010 The 2010 session of the Kansas Legislature opened this week. Since I began serving as your legislator in 2007, I have sent bi-weekly email newsletters during the legislative session to keep you informed on happenings in state government. I hope these newsletters are informative and provide important information on the issues affecting you in this legislative session. The Kansas State Budget With the economic difficulties plaguing Kansas and the resulting hole in the state finances, the state budget and funding for a wide array of programs will once again be the primary issue of the legislative session. As such, this newsletter will focus on the state budget for fiscal year 2011 (July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011). I will address some of this year's other legislative issues in my next newsletter. The effects of the recession are readily apparent in southeast Kansas. Montgomery, Elk, and Chautauqua counties had the highest unemployment rates in the state for most of 2009. The recession has equally devastated the Kansas state budget. Current projections indicate that Kansas will have less revenue in fiscal year 2011 than it did five years ago. These budget shortfalls are unprecedented in Kansas history. Unlike the federal government, Kansas fortunately must end each year with a balanced budget. Thus, when state tax revenues decline, which they did substantially last year, legislators must cut spending or raise taxes. The worst recession in 70 years is not a good time to raise taxes. Thus, the Kansas Legislature cut almost $1 billon (or 16%) of its spending from the state general fund in 2009. Despite that historic effort, current revenue projections indicate that the legislature will need to reduce state spending by an additional $380 million in fiscal year 2011. This budget dilemma raises difficult choices. Having cut some state programs (such as the Kansas Department of Agriculture) by as much as 27%, further budget reductions risk harming vital government services such as law enforcement, programs for the physically and mentally disabled, senior services, education, mental health centers, and many others. I am acutely aware of these challenges and appreciate your thoughts and insight on how to best handle the challenges ahead. With these difficulties, however, come opportunities. Many state programs and regulations have not been examined in a generation or more. The state of Kansas cannot afford to continue programs that ceased to be effective years ago. Also, we cannot afford to burden schools, local governments, and agencies with unnecessary and burdensome regulations that provide little benefit but cost a great deal of time and money. Not just those in the Kansas Legislature, but everyone who uses state and local government services, need to help reassess what state government does and how it accomplishes those tasks. I don't pretend to have all of the answers. With your suggestions and the hard work ahead this session, however, I believe that we can come out of this recession a stronger and more efficient state than we were in the fall of 2008. Legislative Pay Cut I will end this newsletter on a personal note. Since the beginning of last session, I have been troubled by the fact that, despite the onerous cuts that we have imposed on others, legislative pay has remained constant throughout this budget crisis. Last year, I voted for a 5% legislative salary reduction. The bill never passed. This year, I again asked our House leadership to pass a legislative pay cut. So far, the bill has gained little traction. I think the time has come for me to take personal action on this issue. Thus, if the Kansas Legislature does not pass a 10% or greater salary reduction for 2010, I will impose a 10% pay cut on myself and donate that money equally to the Friendship meals programs for seniors in Montgomery, Elk, and Chautauqua counties. I will also give back to the state 6% of the legislative per diem payments that are provided to help cover the extra room-and-board expenses that legislators incur while serving in Topeka. This will lower my per diem payments back to their 2008 levels. I am not making these gestures for cheap publicity. Nor am I taking these actions because I think legislators are overpaid. With annual legislative salaries of about $15,000 and daily per diem payments of $109 during the 90-day legislative session, legislative salaries in Kansas are among the lowest in the nation. Instead, I am making these efforts because I strongly believe that legislators should not impose serious cuts on schools, law enforcement, mental health centers, senior services, the developmentally and physically disabled, and many others without being willing to suffer some personal financial pain. Thank you as always for your interest in the Kansas Legislature. More than ever, I need your ideas and input for the 2010 legislative session. If you have any questions about these issues, or any others, facing the Kansas Legislature, please do not hesitate to contact me at 785-296-7667 or by email at jeff.king@house.ks.gov. ------=_NextPart_000_00DB_01CAD37B.336C63A0 Content-Type: text/html; boundary="_000_B0D05B633CB60644A35C31737041AFFE1DE4ABE508EMAIL01LGKSLO_"; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

From the Statehouse – January = 15, 2010

The 2010 session of the Kansas Legislature opened this = week.  Since I began serving as your legislator in 2007, I have sent bi-weekly = email newsletters during the legislative session to keep you informed on = happenings in state government.  I hope these newsletters are informative and = provide important information on the issues affecting you in this legislative = session.

The Kansas State = Budget

With the economic difficulties plaguing Kansas and the = resulting hole in the state finances, the state budget and funding for a wide = array of programs will once again be the primary issue of the legislative = session.  As such, this newsletter will focus on the state budget for fiscal year = 2011 (July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011).  I will address some of this = year’s other legislative issues in my next newsletter.

The effects of the recession are readily apparent in = southeast Kansas.  Montgomery, Elk, and Chautauqua counties had the highest unemployment rates in the state for most of 2009.  The recession = has equally devastated the Kansas state budget.  Current projections = indicate that Kansas will have less revenue in fiscal year 2011 than it did five = years ago.  These budget shortfalls are unprecedented in Kansas = history.

Unlike the federal government, Kansas fortunately must end = each year with a balanced budget.  Thus, when state tax revenues = decline, which they did substantially last year, legislators must cut spending or raise taxes. 

The worst recession in 70 years is not a good time to raise taxes.  Thus, the Kansas Legislature cut almost $1 billon (or 16%) = of its spending from the state general fund in 2009.  Despite that = historic effort, current revenue projections indicate that the legislature will = need to reduce state spending by an additional $380 million in fiscal year = 2011. 

This budget dilemma raises difficult choices.  Having = cut some state programs (such as the Kansas Department of Agriculture) by as = much as 27%, further budget reductions risk harming vital government services = such as law enforcement, programs for the physically and mentally disabled, = senior services, education, mental health centers, and many others.  I am = acutely aware of these challenges and appreciate your thoughts and insight on = how to best handle the challenges ahead.

With these difficulties, however, come opportunities.  = Many state programs and regulations have not been examined in a generation or more.  The state of Kansas cannot afford to continue programs that = ceased to be effective years ago.  Also, we cannot afford to burden = schools, local governments, and agencies with unnecessary and burdensome = regulations that provide little benefit but cost a great deal of time and = money.  Not just those in the Kansas Legislature, but everyone who uses state and = local government services, need to help reassess what state government does = and how it accomplishes those tasks.

I don’t pretend to have all of the answers.  = With your suggestions and the hard work ahead this session, however, I believe = that we can come out of this recession a stronger and more efficient state than = we were in the fall of 2008.

Legislative Pay = Cut

I will end this newsletter on a personal note.  Since = the beginning of last session, I have been troubled by the fact that, = despite the onerous cuts that we have imposed on others, legislative pay has = remained constant throughout this budget crisis.  Last year, I voted for a = 5% legislative salary reduction.  The bill never passed.  This = year, I again asked our House leadership to pass a legislative pay cut.  So = far, the bill has gained little traction.

I think the time has come for me to take personal action on = this issue.  Thus, if the Kansas Legislature does not pass a 10% or = greater salary reduction for 2010, I will impose a 10% pay cut on myself and = donate that money equally to the Friendship meals programs for seniors in = Montgomery, Elk, and Chautauqua counties.  I will also give back to the state = 6% of the legislative per diem payments that are provided to help cover = the extra room-and-board expenses that legislators incur while serving in Topeka.  This will lower my per diem payments back to their = 2008 levels.

I am not making these gestures for cheap publicity.  = Nor am I taking these actions because I think legislators are overpaid.  = With annual legislative salaries of about $15,000 and daily per diem = payments of $109 during the 90-day legislative session, legislative salaries in = Kansas are among the lowest in the nation. 

Instead, I am making these efforts because I strongly = believe that legislators should not impose serious cuts on schools, law enforcement, = mental health centers, senior services, the developmentally and physically = disabled, and many others without being willing to suffer some personal financial = pain.

Thank you as always for your interest in the Kansas Legislature.  More than ever, I need your ideas and input for the = 2010 legislative session.  If you have any questions about these issues, = or any others, facing the Kansas Legislature, please do not hesitate to contact = me at 785-296-7667 or by email at jeff.king@house.ks.gov.

 =

------=_NextPart_000_00DB_01CAD37B.336C63A0--